Evolution of Generations in Test Automation

Test Automation has seen an incremental evolution from the early generations of Record & Playback to the present fifth generation Code Less Automation. During the first generation, it was Record & Playback followed by the second generation Use/Reuse of functions followed by the third generation Data Driven Scripts. Further to this, is the fourth generation of test automation that is widely used and has seen the usage of Action Keyword Scripts. Today, with the penetration of fifth generation test automation, a functional tester can create an effective robust test automation scripts. It helps in testing the application in minimal time using the Script-less methodology. A rather simple definition of Script-less test automation helps users automate their tests without having to script and use a model based approach for test automation. This method enhances the scalability approach as it makes use of readily available code assets termed as keywords or reusable models to build and maintain automated test cases.

Software testing as a function has evolved from being a merged function to an atomic state now. In the past, organizations used to have testing as part of development teams that resulted in challenges such as late involvement in projects, crunched testing time and so on. As a group, testers battled with lack of purpose and role clarity, diminished recognition and lack of voice.(more…)

More and more enterprises are going digital in order to cater to the growing needs of end users and banking industry is no exception to it. Many banks are moving towards launching digital banks to minimize branch count and thereby reducing the overheads associated with operating branches. Also with the increased usage of Internet and anytime banking, need for having multiple branches is coming down. This opens up some of the challenges specific to testing such as testing frequent releases catering to multiple user profiles, applications being used in variety of browsers and mobile devices, identifying application interdependencies, addressing regulatory requirements in short span of time and so on.(more…)

Abstract

DevOps can turn your company from an environment that is silo-ed to an environment which is well integrated and collaborated. DevOps is all about bringing all teams together so that the team members communicate in a common language and terminology. DevOps culture emphasises on frequent deployment of shippable products in shorter duration by automating all possible activities involved in development, build management, testing and deployment. While implementing DevOps, entire organization may look unsettling, but the benefits derived thereafter would be worth it. Majority of enterprises attempting to scale agile over the next five years will recognize the need for DevOps initiatives now.(more…)